Trolley-hanger.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1906.

ippiicaiion ined Jim@ 5,1905. sain No. 263.888.

To all whom, it' may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS PRICE, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley- Hangers, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form an important part of this specification.

My invention has for its objects, first, the production of a hanger of greater stability than those at present in use; second, the production of a hanger wherein the repairs necessary to all hangers may be made more quickly and more economically than in those commonly used, and, third, the production of a hanger wherein the insulation is more nearly perfect than in those commonly constructed.

To these ends myhanger consists of the device clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, fully described in the following paragraphs of this speciiication, and particularly referred to in the subjoined claims.

My improved hanger is designed in general for supporting overhead electric conductors commonly called trolley-wires, and in particular for use in systems wherein the supports for such electric conductors the trolley-poles are arranged on opposite sides of the right of way and wherein strong wires or cables are suspended from and supported by the said oppositely-arranged poles and the hangers suspended upon the said transverse wires or cablesin contradistinction to systems wherein the trolley-poles are set in the middle of the right of way and have laterally-extending arms or cross-pieces from which the hangers are suspended. However, my device is adapted for use in both of these systems and is also adapted to use in connection with irregular trolley-wires suspended over curved tracks.

In the drawings referred to, Figure 1 is a partially-sectioned side elevation of my improved hanger; Fig. 2,'a partially-sectioned end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a partially-sectioned side elevation of my hanger adapted for use on curved track and trolleys; Fig. 4, a detail, the same being a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of a leg; Fig. 5, the same, of modified construction; Fig. 6, another detail, being a vertical section of the ,swivel and clamping-bolt; and Fig. 7, the

same, of modified construction.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, A being the cable or cross-wire to which my improved hanger is affixed and from which it depends, B my improved hanger, and C the trolleywire clasped by and suspended from my hanger.

The cable A is supported by and suspended from trolley-poles arranged at suitable intervals on each side of the right of way, and they therefore lie transversely to the hangers B and to the trolley-wires supported thereby and suspended therefrom.

The hanger B consists of the link a, the grapnel l), the insulating-bar c, the legs d, the sleeve e, the clamps or grips f, the jam-nut g, and the binding-screw 71,. The link a consists ofthe threaded shaft a', having its lower portion formed into a ring or band-a2, adapted to receive the insulating-bar c, hereinafter described, and having the swivel-block a3 loosely mounted upon its upper end, in which swivel the cable A rests. The grapnel Z) consists of a horizontal bar of suitable metal, (preferably brass,) having its ends b upwardly turned and terminated in the downwardly-turned portions b2, thereby forming hooks adapted to overlap the cable A, upon which cable my hanger is suspended. This grapnel l) is vertically pierced intermediate its length and the opening therein threaded to receive the threaded shaft portion of the link a. The insulating-bar c is made of wood and is preferably cylindrical in form, as shown in Fig. 2. It is transversely mortised intermediate its length and is secured to the link a by means of the pin or rivet b3, which pin or rivet passes through the ring or band a2 of the link a, in which it is affixed, and through the said mortise, thus providing for a slight longitudinal movement of the bar c therein. The legs d are rigidly affixed to the ends of the insulating-bar c, from which they respectively depend, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. They are preferably square in cross-section and are of uniform width or thickness throughout-that is to say, they are fashe ioned with parallel sides. These legs d have the corners of their upper portions threaded to receive the clamping or jam nut g, the purpose of which will hereinafter be set forth. The lower portions of these legs are reduced in thickness or width, being milled away upon their opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 4, or upon one side, as shown in Fig. 5, thus adapting them to fit to the clamps or grips f, said milled portions being provided with IOO laterally-extending pins d', as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, adapted to engage with holes in the clamps or grips f, hereinafter described, as

shown.

The clamps or grips f are fashioned in pairs, a pair being required for each leg. They are respectively milled at their upper portions to conform to and to 'engage with the milled portions of the leg d, these milled portions being laterally pierced to receive the pins d of the leg d, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and at their lower portions to receive the trolley-wire C, as also shown in Figs.3 and 4. The j am-nuts g are interiorly threaded to engage the exteriorly-threaded leg d. Its purpose will be set forth in its order. The binding-screw h is not unlike binding screws in general and serves for a like purpose, as will hereinafter be set forth.

I erect my hanger as follows: I first affix the grapnel b to the link a by screwing it downward upon the threaded shaft portion a/ thereof, after which I mount the swivel portion a3 thereon. I then hang the hooked portions b2 of the grapnel over the cable A, then rotate the same, thereby running it upward upon the threaded shaft portion a of the link a until it is firmly gripped thereon, as shown in Fig. 2. I next suspend the insulating-bar c in the ring or band a2 of the link a, where I secure it in place by passing the pin or rivet b3 through the pierced ring or band a2 of the link a and through the mortise c of the insulating-bar c, a split key being adapted to serve as a means of attachment of these parts. I next affix the legs d to the ends of the insulating-bar c, rigidly securing them in place by means of fastening-screws c2. I then adjust the jam-nuts g to position, screwing them upward upon the threaded portions of the legs d. I next adjust the sleeves e to position, sliding them upward upon the legs d to a position above the milled portions thereof. I then adjust the clamp or grips f to position upon the legs d, allowing the laterally-extending pins d of the legs d to enter the lateral openings f in the milled portions thereof, where they are suspended and prevented from lateral movement thereon. I now slide the sleeves e downward upon the legs d and over the clamps or grips f, thereby preventing their separation from the legs d, where I secure them in place by means of the jam-nuts g, which I screw downward thereon.

The binding-screw 7L (shown in Fig. 1) is to affix the electric conductor i, which conductor serves to carry the electric current to the legs d and through them to the trolley-wire C. It is apparent that the only portions of trolley-hangers subjected to excessive wear are the clamps or grips and that these must needs be replaced at frequent intervals, and it has been necessary in the past to replace the entire leg but with my improved hanger it is only necessary to replace the clamps, which can readily be done by simply loosening the jam-nuts g (screwing them upward upon the legs d,) raising the sleeves e, when the worn clamps or grips may be removed and new ones substitute therefor.

I do not wish to confine myself tothe exact configuration of the several parts nor to the exact construction and arrangement herein shown, for it is apparent that modifications therein may be made without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure,

l. A trolley-hanger comprising essentially a link having an upwardly-extending threaded pin portion and a swivel mounted thereon; a grapnel having a threaded opening therein and adapted to engagement with, and adjustment upon the said threaded pin portion; a cylindrical bar of non-conducting material suspended in the said link; legs rigidly secured to the said insulated bar clamps or grips loosely connected to the said legs; a sleeve mounted upon and longitudinally movable upon the said leg and clamps and a jam-nut mounted and adjustable upon the said leg above the said sleeve, all substanialy as shown and for the purposes speciie 2. In a trolley-hanger, the combination of a link; a grapnel adjustably affixed thereto; a cylindrical bar of non-conductivematerial suspended in the said link, legs of conductive material affixed to the said suspended bar clamps loosely pivoted to the said legs, a sleeve mounted upon the said legs and means for holding the said sleeve in engagement with the said leg and clamps, substantially as shown and for the purposes specified.

3. In a trolley-hanger, the combination of the legs d square or rectangular in cross-section and having their lower portions reduced upon their opposite sides, pins extending laterally from the said reduced portions, clamps square or rectangular in cross-section, and having their upper portions reduced in thickness, holes in or through the said reduced portions, a square or rectangular sleeve mounted upon and longitudinally movable upon the said legs and clamps, and means for holding the said sleeve in place, all substantially as shown and for the purposes specified.

THOMAS PRICE.,

Witnesses:

FRANK R. PRICE, C. F. SNOW.

IOO 

